Refrigerator



LEARY REFRIGERATOR W. C. O

Nov. 29, 1932.

Original Filed July 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVEN TOR.

zaza" ATTORNEY.

,fL/P- v W. C. `O

Nov. 29, 1932 LEARY REFRIGERATOR original Filed July 21. '1927' 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR :A602601 .y

A TTORNE Patented Nov.. 29 1932 WILLIAM C. OLEARY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COII'UMBI.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed. July 21, 1927, Serial No. 207,504. Renewed January 13, 1932.

'lfhis invention relates to refrigerators, of the ice storage type, but more particularly to the wall structure of the refrigerator, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a unit having a continuous hollow wall provided with heat insulation means, and with the unit constructed and arranged to materially reduce ice consumption, by retarding the melting of the ice, under such conditions providing for a great saving in the cost of maintenance.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a refrigerator which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of part-s as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to ywhich fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

lin the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator in accordance with this invention. l

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View thereof. y

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 Figure 1.

Figurev 4 is a section on line 4 4 Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of one of the doors of the refrigerator body.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 Figure 5. Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of the wall structure.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one ofthe heat insulation elements.

Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the bracing members of the heat insulation elements.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a heat insulation element.

'Figure 12 is a perspective View of one of the partition members.

A refrigerator, in accordance with this invention, includesa compartment body portion comprising a horizontally disposed outer top member 1, a horizontallydisposed inner top member 2 which opposes and is spaced from the member 1 and is of less length and less width than the latter, a vertically disposed outer back member 3 and a pair of verticallydisposed spaced inner back members 4, 5 and each of which is of less height and of materially less width than the height and width of the member 8 and oppose the latter. T he members 4, 5 are arranged in spaced relation. A vertically disposed outer side member 6 and a vertically disposed inner side member 7 which is `arranged in spaced relation with respect to the member 6 and of less height and of less width than the height and 70 the width of said member 6, a vertically disposed outer sde member 8 and a vertically disposed inner side member 9 which is arranged in spaced relation with respect to the former and of less height and widththan the 75 height and width of the member 8|, a horizontally disposed outer bottom member 10 and a horizontally disposed inner bottom member 11 which is arranged above and spaced from the member 10 and of less width and of less 80 length than the width and length of the member 10, a horizontally disposed upper front bar or member 12, a pair of vertically disposed outer front members 13, 14, a vertically disposed intermediate front member 15 and a 85 horizontally disposed bottom front member 16. The member l5 extends from the member fupper ends of the members 7 and 9. The

member 4 is arranged between and secured to the members 9 and 18. The member 5 is arranged between and secured to the members 19 and 7. The member 22 is positioned between the members 7 and 19. The member 2 is connected to the member 1. The members 8 and 9 are connected together. The members 18 and 19 are connected together. The members 6 and 7 are connected together. The members 11 and 22 are connected to the member 10. The members 2O and 21 are connected together. The member 23 is connected to the member 8. The member 24 is connected to the member 19. The specific manner in which the members are connected to each other will be presently referred to. The members 1 to 24 inclusive. are arranged relatively to each other to form, in connection with the doors of the refrigerator, to be presently referred to, continuous hollow walls.

The members 1 and 2 form the top wall, the members 3, 4 and 5 the back wall, the members 6 and 7 one side wall, the members 8 and 9 the other side wall, the members 10, 11 and 22 the bottom wall, the members 18 and 19 a l central wall and the members 20, 21 a hollow wall, therefore the body portion is provided with a pair of end walls, a back wall, a bottom wall, a central wall, anda transversely extending hollow wall between the central wall and one of the end walls. The several walls are'hollow. The central wall formed by the members 18, 19 extends from the bot-tom wall to a point removed from the top wall to form a passage 25, and which when desired can be closed by a door 26 and the purpose of the passage 25 will be presently referred to. The

` several walls of the body portion are arranged relatively to each other, to rovide an ice storage chamber 27, a storage c amber 28- below the ice storage chamber 27 and a storage chamber divided by partitions 29 into a series of superposed storage compartments 30. The passage 25 is normally open, but in Figure 2 is shown closed. The passage 25 establishes communication between the refrigerant or ice chamber 27 and the compartments 30. The partitions 29 are foraminous so that the cooled air can pass into the several compartments 30 and discharge through the passage 25. When the door 26 for the passage 25 is closed, the heat from the contents of the compartmentsBO is prevented from passing directly to the ice chamber 27 and the melting of the ice is thereby retarded. Each of the aforesaid chambers is provided throughout with a lining of suitable metallic material, as indicated at 31. The aforesaid chambersv having open fronts, and are normally closed' by the doors 32, 33 and 34 for the chambers 27,28 and that chamber divided into the series of compartments 30, respectively.

The body portion of the refrigerator which is indicated generally at A, is mounted upon a mobile base B and which carries a hinged board C so that access can be had to a drip pan, not shown, which is arranged below the bottom wall of the body portion. The member 20 has its upper face of concave form for the purpose of directing the drippings to a pipe D for discharge into the drip pan not shown.

Each of the doors is formed of an outer member 35 and an inner member 36. The members 35 and 36 are arranged in spaced relation. The doors 32, 33 and 34 form continuations for the front wall of the refrigerator. The members of the body portion which oppose each other and the members of the doors which oppose each other are connected together by holdfast devices arranged at the corners of the said members. In Figure 5 the holdfast devices are indicated at' 37 and which extend through one member and are secured in another member. The same method for connecting the door members together is employed for connecting the wall members together and it is thought unnecessary to specifically describe and refer to, other than as stated, the means for connecting the members together, that is to say they inner members to the outer members or the upper members to the lower members. The door 33 is of less height than the door 32 and the door 32 is of less height than the door 34.

Arranged within thehollow top wall is a heat insulating element .38, within one of the hollow end walls a heat insulation element 39, within the other hollow end wall a heat insulation element 40, within the hollow bottom wall a heat insulation element 41, within the hollow central wall a heat insulation element 42, within the hollow transverselyeX- tending wall a heat insulation element 43, within the hollow door 32 a heat insulation element 44, within the hollow door 34, a heat insulation element 44 and within the door 33 a heat insulation element 46. Each of the said elements is of the same construction, with `icomprises a hollow flexible member or bag 47, preferably constr Licted ofrubber or any suitable material impervious to air, and which is flexible, as well as resilient, and the bag 47 is normally closed and has an outlet nipple 48 from which the air from the bag is exhausted, and the nipple 48 is constructed of material which can be bent and Welded in a manner to close it. The bag 47 originally is open, for the reception of a sectional support to maintain the bag in extended position and after the support has lbeen' mounted in the bag, the bag is sealed, other than the nipple and the latter is employed to exhaust the air to provide a vacuum in the bag. The nipple is then sealed. The sectional support consists of a pair of oppositely dfsposed flanged sec# tions 49, 50. Positioned between the sections 49, 50 is a partition member 51, provided with oppositely extending arms 52 to maintain the partition 51 in set position relative to the sections 49, 50. The partition 51 is also provided with openings 53, for the passage of h'oldfast devices 54 and these latter are carried by the section 50 and engage in threaded sockets 55 carried on the inner face of the section 49. The bag, sections 49, 50 and partition 51 are formed of -material of low conductivity.

When the heat insulation elements are ar-l ranged in position they will be as illustrated l t'on member possessing a heat insulating characteristic and each partition member will form each vacuum chamber into a pair ot compartments. The hollow walls, in connection with the elements aforesaid, will provide throughout endless insulation for the several chambers and therefore will maintain the temperature of the articles of food in the Y storage chamber and will also prevent the too rapid consumption of ice, or in other words retard the melting ofthe ice, under such con'- ditions materially reducing the cost of ice resulting in upkeep at a minimum expense.

It is thought the many advantages of a refrigerator, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the n. scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator formed with a hollow wall, a heat insulating element for positioning within the hollow wall, said element including a bag to provide a vacuum space, and

a sectional support within the bag to brace the same against external pressure, said support including apartition dividing the-bag into a pair of compartments.

2. In a refrigerator formed with a hollow wall, a heat insulating element for positioning within the hollow wall, said element including a.- bag to provide a vacuum space, and a sectional support within the bag to brace the same against external pressure, said support including a pair of anged side members, and a partition disposed between the side members and having oppositely extending arms respectively bearing against the respective side members.

3. In a refrigerator structure, means to provide a chamber entirely surrounded by a hollow space having opposed walls, and a heat insulating element in said hollow space and including a flexible envelope enclosing a vacuum space and an inner frame within the envelope, said envelope formed of flexible material of low conductivity and, impenetrable to air, said frame being rigidly braced and fastened and supporting said envelope against air pressure.

4. In a refrigerator structure, means to provide a chamber entirely surrounded by a hollow space having opposed walls, a heat insulating means within said hollow space and including an envelope compos/d of flexible material having low conductility and impenetrable to air and enclosing a vacuum space and a rigid frame for supporting said envelope in distended form against air pressure, said frame consisting of flat wall sections spaced from each other and having bracing means extending from one of said sections to an opposed section, combined with means for fastening said sections against said bracing means and for locking said sections in immovable spaced relation, said sections having anges extending inwardly at the vedges toward the median line of the space and forming a means to support the edges of said envelope against air pressure.

5. In a refrigerator structure, means to provide a chamber entirely surrounded by a hollow space having opposed walls, a heat insulating means within said hollow space and including an envelope enclosing a vacuum space and a rigid frame within said space covered b the envelope, said envelope composed of exible material of low conductivity and impenetrable to air, said frame functioning to support said envelope in distended form against surrounding air pressure and including flat wall sections, a median partition, bracing rods based against said partition and wall sections for maintaining partition and wall sections in spaced relation, threaded socket forming means carried by one of said walls and coupling elements extending through the other wall section and saidpartition and coacting with said means for locking said wall sections in immovable spaced relation, said wall sections having' means extending inwardly from the edges thereof for supporting the edges of the covv ering envelope against air pressure.

6. In a refri erator structure, means to provide a cham er surrounded by a hollow space having opposed walls, means to provide door casings in said walls, hinged doors fitting said casings and each formed ofl two separate members, holdfast means for fasten' i ing said opposed walls in spaced relation, holdfast means for fastening said opposed separate members of each door together in .5 spaced relation, said casings and said doors h having open edges opposed to each other when said doors are closed thereby completing a hollow space entirely surrounding said chamber, a continuous heatinsulating means within said walls and doors, and said holdfast means opposing the edges of said heat insulating means.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature hereto.

' 25 WHJLIAM C. OLEARY. 

